Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus, including: an image forming part to form an image made of plural pixels by using plural printing colors and a special color different from the plural printing colors; an input part of image data of the image; an image processing part to output component data of the plural printing colors from the image data for each of the pixels; a user interface to specify a condition for converting the component data of the plural printing colors into component data of a multi color in which the special color is added to the plural printing colors; and a conversion part to convert the component data of the plural printing colors from the image processing part into the component data of the multi color to the image forming part based on the condition of the user interface.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A printer driver for an image forming apparatus comprising: a processor for executing instructions to perform operations, the processor comprising: a user interface to specify a condition for converting component data of a plurality of printing colors into component data of a multi color in which a special color different from the plurality of printing colors is added to the plurality of printing colors; a notification part to notify the image forming apparatus to convert the component data of the plurality of printing colors from the image processing part into the component data of the multi color to the image forming part based on the condition of the user interface and thereby form an image made of a plurality of pixels by using the plurality of printing colors and the special color; and a determination part to determine whether a first hue pattern represented by the component data of the plurality of printing colors is coincident with a specific second hue pattern previously specified by the condition for each of the pixels; wherein the notification part notifies the image forming apparatus to replace the component data of the plurality of printing colors with the component data of the special color for the pixel in which coincidence is affirmed by the determination part.
A printer driver enables printing with a special color (e.g., gloss, gold, silver, fluorescent) in addition to standard CMYK colors. It features a user interface where the user specifies conditions for converting standard printing colors into a combination including the special color. The driver determines if the color of a pixel matches a user-defined color pattern. If a match is found, the driver replaces the standard color data of that pixel with the special color, creating an image with highlights or specific areas in the special color. The user interface lets the user define the conditions for the color replacement, such as specific color values to be replaced.
2. The printer driver of claim 1 , wherein the user interface initially sets the component data of all the pixels to the component data of the special color, and then, provides a setting for a user to replace the component data of the special color of the pixel with the one of the component data of the plurality of printing colors.
The printer driver described in claim 1 provides a user interface that simplifies special color application. Initially, the driver sets every pixel to use the special color. The user then has the option to selectively revert specific pixels or areas back to the standard CMYK colors. This allows for easy creation of images where the special color is used extensively, with standard colors used for selective details or to remove the special color from parts of the image. This approach is the opposite of claim 1 which defaults to the normal CMYK color and then selectively introduces the special color to specific areas.
3. The printer driver of claim 1 , wherein the user interface provides a setting to replace the component data of black from the image forming part with the component data of the special color.
The printer driver described in claim 1 allows the user to specify that all black color components in the image should be replaced with the special color. This is done through a setting in the user interface. When this option is enabled, the driver automatically replaces any areas that would normally be printed in black with the special color. This is especially useful for creating high-contrast images or adding a unique visual effect to text or dark areas.
4. The printer driver of claim 1 , wherein the user interface provides a setting to replace the component data of cyan, magenta and yellow respectively including values from the image processing part with the component data of the special color.
The printer driver described in claim 1 allows the user to specify that all cyan, magenta, and yellow color components be replaced with the special color. This is configured via the user interface. The driver scans the image data, and whenever it detects cyan, magenta, or yellow, the driver replaces it with the special color. This is useful for making the image a duotone featuring the special color plus black, if black is also still present.
5. The printer driver of claim 1 , wherein the user interface provides a setting to replace character information in the image data detected by the image processing part with the special color.
The printer driver described in claim 1 can automatically detect text within the image data and replace the standard colors of that text with the special color. The driver identifies character information and then substitutes the normal CMYK color values with the color values of the special color. This is a quick method to make text stand out using a gloss, metallic, or fluorescent finish. This special-color replacement of the text is configured via the user interface.
6. The printer driver of claim 1 , wherein the special color is a gloss color.
The printer driver described in claim 1 uses a gloss finish as its special color. The gloss finish enhances particular areas of the printed material, adding a noticeable texture and reflecting light for an attractive sheen. The user interface lets the user specify the color replacement rules for the gloss application.
7. The printer driver of claim 1 , wherein the special color comprises gold, silver, copper, or a fluorescent color.
The printer driver described in claim 1 can utilize one of several special colors, including gold, silver, copper, or a fluorescent color. These metallic or vibrant colors add unique visual effects to printed images. The user interface enables users to choose which of these special colors will be used and to configure the specific areas or elements of the image to be rendered in that color.
8. A printer driving method comprising: specifying, by a user interface, by a system comprising a processor, a condition for converting component data of a plurality of printing colors into component data of a multi color in which a special color different from the plurality of printing colors is added; outputting, by the system, component data of the plurality of printing colors by input of image data of an image made of a plurality of pixels for each of the pixels so that the component data of the plurality of printing colors is converted into component data of the multi color based on the condition for forming the image by using the plurality of printing colors and the special color; detecting, by the system, previously set character information from the image data and whether a first hue pattern represented by the component data of the plurality of printing colors is coincident with a specific second hue pattern previously specified by the condition is determined for each of the pixels; and replacing, by the system, the component data of the plurality of printing colors with the component data of the special color for the pixel in which coincidence is affirmed.
A method for printing images involves a user interface to specify how standard printing colors are converted into a multi-color scheme that includes a special color. The system processes image data, identifies color patterns in each pixel, and determines if these patterns match pre-defined criteria. If a match is found, the standard colors are replaced with the special color. This process results in an image that uses both standard and special colors, with the special color highlighting areas defined by the user through hue pattern matching or character information.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein in the specifying the condition by the user interface, component values of cyan, magenta, yellow and black are respectively specified.
In the printing method described in claim 8, the user interface allows the specification of individual component values (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) to be replaced by the special color. This provides granular control over the color conversion process, enabling users to precisely define which color combinations are substituted with the special color. This allows the user to adjust the threshold of replacement for each CMYK color individually.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein specifying comprises replacing the component data of cyan, magenta and yellow respectively including values from the image processing part with the component data of the special color.
In the printing method described in claim 8, specifying the color replacement includes replacing the cyan, magenta, and yellow color components from the image data with the special color. This process converts most of the image (excluding black) to the special color, resulting in a duotone or monotone effect with the special color. This is a simplified method for using the special color across large portions of the image.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein specifying comprises replacing character information in the image data detected by the image processing part with the special color.
In the printing method described in claim 8, the specification of color replacement involves the method automatically detecting and replacing text within the image data with the special color. This makes text stand out using the special color effect (e.g., gloss, metallic). The replacement happens automatically based on character detection within the image processing pipeline.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the special color is a gloss color.
In the printing method described in claim 8, the special color used is a gloss color. Gloss adds a shiny coating or finish to the print in particular areas of the image.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the special color comprises gold, silver, copper, or a fluorescent color.
In the printing method described in claim 8, the special color used is gold, silver, copper, or a fluorescent color. This allows for printing metallic highlights or bright colors.
14. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium, the medium comprising: causing a processor provided in an image forming apparatus to perform: acquiring, from a user interface, a condition for converting component data of a plurality of printing colors into component data of a multi color in which a special color different from the plurality of printing colors is added; outputting component data of the plurality of printing colors by input of image data of an image made of a plurality of pixels for each of the pixels so that the component data of the plurality of printing colors is converted into component data of the multi color based on the condition for forming the image by using the plurality of printing colors and the special color; detecting, by the system, previously set character information from the image data and whether a first hue pattern represented by the component data of the plurality of printing colors is coincident with a specific second hue pattern previously specified by the condition is determined for each of the pixels; and replacing, by the system, the component data of the plurality of printing colors with the component data of the special color for the pixel in which coincidence is affirmed.
A computer-readable medium stores instructions that, when executed, cause a printer to: acquire user-defined conditions for converting standard colors to a multi-color scheme including a special color; process image data to output standard color components for each pixel; determine whether the color of each pixel matches specific criteria (hue or detected characters) defined by the user; and replace matching standard colors with the special color. The printer creates an image using both standard and special colors.
15. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 14 , wherein in the acquiring the condition by the user interface, component values of cyan, magenta, yellow and black are respectively specified.
The computer-readable medium of claim 14 acquires user-defined conditions for the special color conversion. This includes specifications for each CMYK color component, allowing the user to configure the precise color values that trigger the substitution with the special color. This enables detailed control over the color conversion process for each pixel.
16. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 14 , wherein acquiring comprises replacing the component data of cyan, magenta and yellow respectively including values from the image processing part with the component data of the special color.
The computer-readable medium of claim 14 acquires user-defined conditions for the special color conversion. This includes replacing cyan, magenta, and yellow colors with the special color in image processing.
17. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 14 , wherein acquiring comprises replacing character information in the image data detected by the image processing part with the special color.
The computer-readable medium of claim 14 acquires user-defined conditions for the special color conversion. This includes replacing character information in the image with the special color during image processing.
18. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 14 , wherein the special color is a gloss color.
The computer-readable medium of claim 14 uses gloss as its special color for the image forming process.
19. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 14 , wherein the special color comprises gold, silver, copper, or a fluorescent color.
The computer-readable medium of claim 14 uses either gold, silver, copper, or a fluorescent color as its special color for the image forming process.
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December 28, 2015
June 6, 2017
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